3rd December, 2015
Paul Iyoghojie
A trustee to the estate of the late Mr. Abiodun Toma Ikomi, Adebayo Shogeyinbo has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ court for allegedly converting the monies and properties of the deceased, comprising about N33.7m, five cars, 97 shops, buildings and parcels of land to his personal use.
The accused was arrested by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit, (PSFU), Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, western Nigeria. And after investigation by SP Kalayalo and his team, the accused, a resident of Igbosere Road, Lagos Island, was arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court on a three-count charge of felony to wit, fraudulent conversion of monies and properties of the late Mr. Abiodun Toma Ikomi to his personal use.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Amedu Adoga informed the court in charge No. N/35/2015 that the accused, was arrested following a complaint by the family of the late Ikomi that the accused, who is their late father’s estate trustee converted their father’s monies and properties to his personal use and sold others out without the consent of the family.
Amedu told the court that the accused between November 2000 and October, 2013 converted the sum of N10m at Eko International Bank Plc, N3.7m at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Garki, Abuja Branch, N20m gratuity and benefits domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Sapele, Delta State Branch, all properties of the deceased to his personal use and neglected the family of the deceased.
He said the accused also converted five cars and sold 97 shops at Iweju International Market, Iyana-Iba, Ojo, Lagos, Duplex building at Ugbiyi GRA, Sapele, Delta State, vacant parcel of land at Ugbiyi GRA, Sapele, Delta State, two buildings at Plot 19, Block X11 Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja, plot No. M4-24L at Delta Steel, 1000 priority housing scheme, Ovian, Aladja, Delta State and a building at B Plot 72, Ikomi Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, properties of the deceased to his personal use.
Amedu said the accused also concealed the age of Tosan Toma Ikomi with the intention to sell the property at Ugbiyi GRA, Sapele, Delta State willed to Tosan Toma Ikomi by his late father.
Amedu noted that the offences the accused committed are punishable under sections 285(9) (b), 332 (1) and 324 (2) (3) of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused denied the police allegations in the open court, and magistrate Mrs. O.G. Oghre admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Oghre adjourned the case till 4 December, 2015 for mention, while the defendant was taken to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when he will fulfill his bail conditions.